PITTSBURGH (KDKA) – After nearly 100 years, this year’s graduating class at Schenley High School will be the last.

Thousands of students have graduated as Spartans, but that is coming to an end.

For many people, it’s more than just the closing of a school. It’s a piece of history and part of who they are.

“Definitely a Spartan, runs through my veins. The legacy it leaves for me is not only a proud tradition, but for my kids. All four of them went here,” Alvin Smith said.

It was more than pictures, success stories and struggles to make it through four years of trials and tribulations.

It was generations of pride, community and love coming to an end with one last graduation march.

“I’m a second generation Schenley. My mother graduated from here. My children graduated. And to know that this is it? It’s bad enough when they closed the building, but now they’re just going to take away the name?” Nikki Gaines said.

Schenley is not the only Pittsburgh high school going away.

Sunday marked the end of an era for Peabody as well. The building will reopen in a year as the Barack Obama International Baccalaureate Academy.

“Just to say I was part of the last class and to actually make it throughout all these years, it was a just a good feeling,” Edward Gregory said.

There will be pictures, memories and plenty of stories to tell of Peabody, and Schenley and the schools that use to be.

Eric Smith may top them all when he shows his tattoo of the Spartan to forever hold high the Schenley that will never die to him.

“It’s heartbreaking. Just to see my alma mater close forever,” Smith said.

RELATED LINKS

More Local News
More Reports From Lynne Hayes-Freeland
Schenley High School
Peabody High School